Make no mistake, ‘Nitro’ athletics is here to stay.
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Kooringal-Wagga Little Athletics club’s experiment with the team-based concept has been hailed one of the highlights of the season.
With athletes generating a carnival atmosphere, club officials were blown away by the enthusiasm and the results – with a number of personal bests recorded as competitors chased bonus points for their teams.
Fulfilling its mission of ending the season with a bang, the Nitro night is set to become an annual event – at least.
“We deemed it a great success… it was definitely a highlight of the calendar,” secretary Myriam Walker.
“The feedback from the kids was that they loved it – they enjoyed working in a team environment rather than competing individually.
“So it’s definitely going to be held on an annual basis. We’ll even think about it being on twice next year.”
Many believe the Nitro concept has the potential to revolutionise the sport, with the teams-based concept considered to athletics what Twenty20 is to cricket.
Following the success of the recent Usain Bolt-led Nitro series, Kooringal-Wagga officials hit on the idea of holding their own event to repay athletes for a season severely impacted by wet weather last spring.
The Nitro carnival is scored on a points-basis with events modified to make every athlete’s contribution important, rather than just riding on the oldest, fastest, strongest and best athletes.
The green team left its rivals in envy, emerging victorious.
“We had the older age groups looking after the younger athletes and the tiny tots and the under 6s and 7s all looked up to the older athletes and captains,” Walker said.
“They were in awe of them, especially Godfrey (Okerenyang) who was leading the red team – he was really, really good with them.”
Organisers are already looking at ways to develop and improve the concept for next year.
The club will formally wrap up the season on Friday with its presentation night.